Journal of Molecular Catalysis A-Chemical, Vol.156, No.1-2, 127-132, 2000
Influence of amphiphile concentration on the enantioselectivity in the rhodium-catalyzed reduction of unsaturated substrates in water
The enantioselectivity of the asymmetric hydrogenation of some unsaturated amino acid precursors with [Rh(COD)(1)]BF4 and [Rh(COD)(2)]ClO4 as catalyst is influenced by the presence of amphiphiles. Performing the reduction in water, both the activity and the enantioselectivity are enhanced significantly in the presence of surfactants. The determination of the CMC of some surfactants, as well as the reduction in mixtures of water/methanol in the presence of amphiphiles, give some evidence for the importance of micelles formation in these enhancements.